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Monday, January 21, 2013

30 bodies found in Anambra river•Obi cuts short overseas trip

From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Residents of Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra
State woke up yesterday morning to a horrifying discovery of over 30
dead bodies floating in Ezu River in the community. The river is at the
boundary between Enugu and Anambra states and the dead bodies were found
at the old Enugu-Onitsha road axis of the river.
The corpses that could not be easily identified, were suspected to
have been dumped in the river Friday night by unknown persons. Some
fishermen and sand excavators discovered the decomposing bodies at the
bank of the river. People from all over the state and neighbouring Enugu
state including travellers besieged the river yesterday to catch a
glimpse of the dead bodies. Meanwhile, government sources said that
Governor Peter Obi has cut short his working trip abroad on hearing of
the incident and would return to the state immediately.
When reporters visited the scene, three more bodies were seen
floating toward the other bodies in Amansea-Ugbenu- Ebenebe town.
Natives of Amansea who were still in shock over the discovery stated
that some of the bodies they saw had been swept away while some were
still buried down the river and would float later. Speaking to
reporters, the traditional ruler of Amansea community, Igwe Kenneth
Okonkwo, described it as a sad development, noting that his community
had not witnessed such a gory sight before.
On the number of bodies so far seen, the monarch said he could not
say exactly the total number of dead bodies found in the river but that
they were too many, adding that his people would take counts as the dead
bodies flow. However, addressing newsmen, the Commissioner for Local
Government, Mrs Azuka Enemuo who was in the company with her Environment
counterpart and the Awka North local government chairman, said the
discovery was strange and that government would get to its root. She
further said: “We have seen about 14 floating bodies so far and this is a
river at the boundary between Enugu and Anambra states.
This river actually runs from somewhere in Agbogu Enugu through Oji
River cross Anambra state and empties into River Niger. “It is obvious
that these corpses are flowing from somewhere and I can tell you we
haven’t seen the last of it. We cannot say for instance, that this is
the number because they are still floating. From the account we have,
corpses are still floating down into Anambra state.” The Commissioner
explained that the security agencies have been informed about the
incident, adding that the governor who was outside the country on an
official assignment had cut short his trip and was on his way back to
the state.
She said that Enugu state government officials had been contacted,
“to come and witness with us because it is a river on the boundary of
Anambra and Enugu states and it is floating into Anambra state.”
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Emeka Chukwuemeka said that the command was aware of the incident and
that it has commenced investments, assuring that it would soon unravel
what happened. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Balla Nasarawa, has
also confirmed the incident, adding that investigation had begun to
unravel the mystery.
“Our attention was drawn to the incident and we immediately
dispatched our men. As you can see, we are at the scene and we saw some
corpses flowing on the river. I have contacted my colleague in Enugu
since we share the boundary so that we can carry out a high level
investigation into the incident. “I don’t know the exact number of
bodies, but we have seen about 10 to 15 corpses afloat the river,” he
said. Nasarawa, however, denied reports that it was a recurrent incident
being carried out by the police, saying this was his first time of
getting such a report. “I don’t think that is true but we shall
investigate and keep the public informed after we conclude our
investigation,” he said.
The Amansea River is a tributary of River Niger deriving its source
from Agbuogugu community in Enugu and flows through Orji to Amansea. The
river is also a source of drinking water to the people of Amansea and
neighbouring communities. The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs,
Mrs Azuka Enemuo, described the incident as a gory one and a waste of
human lives, adding “it is a crime against humanity.’’ The commissioner
also noted that the bodies found were not fresh corpses. “It was a
discovery made by the households who normally come down to get water for
their domestic chores. It is a horrible site.
“It is obvious that these corpses are from somewhere and I can tell
you that we have not seen the last of it or say this is the actual
number,” she said. She said that the government would sink additional
boreholes in the area to ameliorate the water challenges of the people
who drink and carry out other domestic chores from the river. “The
demand to take water from an existing borehole would be high now. We
shall collaborate with the traditional ruler to sink more boreholes to
ameliorate the water challenges of the people,” she said.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Kenneth
Okonkwo, who expressed shock at the development, said that finding an
alternative source of potable water for the people had become paramount.
Okonkwo said he would collaborate with security agents to unravel the
mysterious incident and work with the state government in providing
water for the people.
In separate remarks, the Transition Chairman of the Council Area, Mrs
Joy Enweluzor, and the Vice President-General of the community, Mr
Maduka Okoye, said that none of the bodies found afloat had been
identified as members of the community. They added that no member of the
community had also been reported missing.